Induction air temperature regulators

ABSTRACT

Induction air temperature regulator for internal combustion engines, wherein the carburetor is enclosed in a bell-shaped casing, the air sucked through the base of said casing flowing upwards through an annular filter element and along the outer surface of the carburetor, thus ensuring a heat exchange therewith before being sucked through the carburetor to form the combustion mixture. Spherical shutters surround the lower portion of the bell casing and are movable to control the ratio of heated/unheated air entering the carburetor.

United States Patent M angin [54] INDUCTION AIR TEMPERATURE REGULATORS[72] lnventor: Jean-PierreMangin,Bi1lancourt, France [73] Assignees:Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault, Billancourt; Automobiles Peugeot,Paris, France |22| Filed: May 18, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 38,363

[52] US. Cl ..123/122 D, 123/122 A, 123/198 E, 55/D1G. 28, 261/1,261/145, 261/159 [51] Int. Cl ..F02m 31/06, F02m 15/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..123/41.31, 122,122 A, 122 D, 123/122 11,142,195 A, 195 C, 198E; 261/1, 144, 145,156,158,159,161;55/DIG.28,276

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,867 5/1921 Johnson..261/145 X [4 1 July 4, 1972 685,993 11/1901 Le Blon ..261/156 X2,288,696 7/1942 Funderburk. ...123/122 D 369,721 6/1943 Fiedler ..261/13,016,890 1/1962 Bibo ..123/122 D 3,285,588 11/1966 Huddle 123/122 XPrimary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller &Mosher [57] ABSTRACT Induction air temperature regulator for internalcombustion engines, wherein the carburetor is enclosed in a bell-shapedcasing, the air sucked through the base of said casing flowing upwardsthrough an annular filter element and along the outer surface of thecarburetor, thus ensuring a heat exchange therewith before being suckedthrough the carburetor to form the combustion mixture. Sphericalshutters surround the lower portion of the bell casing and are movableto control the ratio of heated/unheated air entering the carburetor.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures INDUCTION AIR TEMPERATURE REGULATORS Thepresent invention relates to a device for regulating the temperature ofinduction air in internal combustion engines.

In internal combustion engines the differences in induction airtemperatures which result on the one hand from climatic and seasonalchanges and on the other hand from the inherent engine temperature,which have a direct influence on the carburetor temperature byconduction, according to engine speeds and driving, running or loadconditions, are a cause of significant irregularities in the combustionconditions and therefore in the engine operation. Abnormally coldcombustion products cannot mix properly, and therefore burn incompletelyand irregularly. On the other hand at abnormally high temperatures thefuel vaporizes, thus disturbing the proportions and homogeneousness ofthe mixture. In either case these variations play an important role inthe increment of atmospheric pollution by exhaust gas of internalcombustion engines, and also in the engine efficiency.

Reducing this pollution by providing an accurate and constant adjustmentof combustion conditions is greatly facilitated by a proper regulationof the temperature of the combustion products.

It is known to preheat the engine combustion air during the winter or incold weather by causing this air to circulate beforehand along theexhaust pipe system.

It is also known through the US. patent application, Ser. No. 18,043,filed on Mar. 10, 1970, to perform a regulation, in the coolingdirection, of the fuel temperature by means of a heat exchange utilizinga fluid circulation through the carburetor, the cooling fluid consistingfor example of the fuel itself.

However, these arrangements constitute but partial solutions to theproblem of regulating the temperature of combustion products. Thisinvention constitutes a satisfactory reinforcement and complement of themeans broadly set forth hereinabove and is characterized in that thecarburetor is enclosed in a bell-shaped circular casing open at itsbase. An annular filtration element surrounding the inlet end of thesuction pipe to which the carburetor is mounted is adapted to close thesuction opening at the bottom or base of said casing.

With this arrangement, the induction air is sucked vertically andupwardly, and as the air flows along the external surface of thecarburetor during its ascending travel towards the top of thebell-shaped casing, a heat exchange takes place therebetween.

This heat exchange is adapted, by cold weather, to preheat the airstream sucked along the carburetor and conversely by warm weather thecarburetor is cooled to a greater extent and thus protected against thedetrimental heating thereof by conduction, means being provided foradjusting the air input in order to deliver to the suction surface ofthe air filter air at the surrounding temperature, preheated air, or amixture of both as a function of the temperature of the combustionmixture in the induction manifold.

Although this bell-shaped casing and filter arrangement is applicable toall carburetor types, the carburetors body may advantageously beprovided with fins in order to increase considerably its heat exchangesurface area. Similarly, the contour of this bell-shaped casing may bedesigned with a view to create about the carburetor body a suctionstream of gradually decreasing cross-sectional surface area of theVenturi type in order to accelerate the air flow speed towards thecarburetor inlet opening and thus promote the heat exchange. The airspeed at the inlet end of the carburetor may also be increased byresorting to a Venturi or funnel shaped opening. These provisionspromote the increment in the velocity of the air flow through thecarburetor and consequently the production of a more homogeneousair/fuel mixture through an improved fuel atomization.

Another advantageous feature characterizing this invention is due to theannular shape of the filter which provides a relatively largecross-sectional or filtration area, whether through its peripheralcylindrical lateral surface or through its horizontal flat base surface,thus reducing pressure losses at the suction end of the system.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the fact thatit affords a substantial reduction in over-all dimensions of the filterand carburetor assembly, since this assembly is housed within a commoncapacity within the bellshaped casing.

Another advantage characterizing this invention is the protection of thecarburetor by the bell-shaped casing against any condensation ofatmospheric moisture, against any external accidental projection orsplashing of mud, stones, gravels and also against the ingress of dust,etc.

Considering the present trend towards a more strict control of enginecombustion conditions with a view to reduce atmospheric pollution,sealing the means provided for closing the bell-shaped casing willsafely protect the carburetor against tampering by unskilled personsattempting to modify its initial adjustments and thus run the risk ofincreasing the pollution caused by the engine.

Moreover, making the assembly impervious to any release of fuel vaporswill also put same in conformity with the various anti-pollutionregulations either in force or to be promulgated within a very shorttime in connection with the evaporation of gasoline vapors.

It is another advantageous feature of this device that it provides thecombination of a carburetor with a filter into a same and single enginefeed unit definitely pre-adjusted on the as sembly line, so that anyadjustment means may be dispensed with in this unit. Under theseconditions the assembling may be performed by spot welding or riveting.Thus, manufacturing costs can be reduced considerably.

Repair and overhaul procedure will thus consist simply in replacing thedefective units with new ones, thus affording substantial savings inhold-up and maintenance time.

The advantageous features characterizing this invention will appear moreclearly in the following description given with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical diagrammatic section taken through the assemblycomprising the carburetor, the bell-shaped casing and a filter element,together with a device for distributing the air, preheated or not,supplied to the filter element and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectionshowing a typical form of embodiment, known per se, of the sealedpassage for the carburetor throttle valve control rod.

In FIG. 1, a carburetor 1 provided with vertical radial fins 2 ismounted on an end flange of the induction pipe 3.

This carburetor 1 is covered by a bell-shaped casing 4 secured along itsbase to the peripheral reinforcing ring 5 of an air filter 6 of annularconfiguration which surrounds the companion flanges of carburetor l andinduction pipe 3.

Pipes 7 and 7 communicating with the surface of the exhaust manifold orpipes, supply preheated air to the suction zone 8.

Spherical shutters 9 and 10 pivoting about a common axis 11 are providedfor closing partially or completely the pipes 7 and 7 supplyingpreheated air and simultaneously opening partially or completely aspherical sector 12 opening undemeath the induction pipe to permit theingress of unheated air.

During the operation of the assembly the spherical shutters 9 and 10compensated by known mechanical means (not shown), such as springs, havetheir positions controlled by thermostatic means known per se (notshown) responsive to the temperature of the combustion mixture. Whenthis temperature increases the pair of spherical shutters 9 and 10rotate upwards about the center 1 l but away from each other, thusensuring on the one hand the gradual closing of the preheated air inletorifices 7 and 7 and on the other hand the gradual opening of thespherical sector 12 to permit the ingress of unheated air by suction. Inthe maximum opening position of spherical shutters 9 and 10corresponding to the dash and dot line 13 13 of FIG. 1, the preheatedair inlets 7 and 7 are fully closed and only unheated air sucked throughthe opened sector 12 flows into the induction pipe 3, then through thefilter 5 and penetrates into the bell-shaped casing 4 along thecarburetor body 1 and its fins 2, thus cooling the carburetor andincreasing its flow rate due to the presence of passages having agradually decreasing cross-sectional area, until this air penetratesthrough the Venturi funnel 14 into the carburetor.

When shutters 9 and 10 are closed, as shown in thick lines in FIG. 1,only preheated air is admitted through the supply pipes 7 and 7 FIG. 2illustrates in part-sectional and diagrammatic view the bell-shapedcasing 4 and carburetor 1, to show the sealed passage of the throttlevalve control rod, the throttle valve shaft carrying at its outer end aprojecting diametral pin 16 engaging a diametral notch 17 formed in theadjacent tubular end of a control rod 18, this tubular end being adaptedto receive the end of said shaft 15, as shown. The control rod 18 isretained in the proper axial position in a socket 19 formed with anintegral fastening flange 20 secured by screws or rivets to the lateralwall of the bell-shaped casing 4. The control rod 18 is prevented fromescaping from its coupling engagement with shaft 15 by a collar 21adapted to engage the inner end of socket 19.

The construction of this device from light-alloy or other sheet metalelements assembled with a carburetor body provided with suitable finsand designed in conformity with modern die-casting methods constitutes alow-cost assembly ensuring an efficient and automatic regulation of thetemperatures of the air-fuel combustion mixture.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand. Such modifications and variations are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

I claim:

1. An induction air temperature regulator for internal combustionengines, comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing having anopening at its base and enclosing said carburetor therein; means forsucking air into said casing through said base portion, along the outersurface of said carburetor to ensure a heat exchange therewith, and thenthrough said carburetor; means, including a filter element, forfiltering at least a portion of said air sucked into said casing;venturi-type passages having a decreasing cross section defined in saidcasing through which said sucked in air flows, the largest cross sectionof said passages corresponding to the surface area of said filterelement; said carburetor having a funnel-shaped air inlet; means forsupplying heated and unheated air into said casing; and sphericallyshaped shutters adjustably mounted on said casing in operativeengagement with said means for supplying heated and unheated air,wherein said shutters are adjustable to adjust the ratio of heated tounheated air supplied to said carburetor through said casing.

2. An air induction temperature regulator for internal combustionengines, comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing, having an openbase portion, enclosing said carburetor; at lease one air flow passagedefined in said casing; means, including a first air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying heated air to said carburetorthrough said passage; means, including a second air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying unheated air to saidcarburetor through said passage; and means for adjusting the ratio ofunheated air to heated air in said carburetor, including a plurality ofarcuately shaped movable shutters mounted adjacent said base portion inoperative engagement with said air inlets, further comprising: a filterelement mounted adjacent said open base portion between said air inletsand said carburetor; and a plurality of said air flow passages have agradually decreasing cross section, the largest cross sectioncorresponding to the surface area of said filter element.

3. An air induction temperature regulator for internal combustionengines, comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing, having an openbase portion, enclosing said carburetor; at least one air flow assagedefined in said casing; means, including a first air in et disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying heated air to said carburetorthrough said passage; means including a second air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying unheated air to saidcarburetor through said passage; and means for adjusting the ratio ofunheated air to heated air in said carburetor, including a plurality ofarcuately shaped movable shutters mounted adjacent said base portion inoperative engagement with said air inlets, further comprising a filterelement mounted adjacent said open base portion between said air inletsand said carburetor, wherein the total area of the open passages definedby said first and second air inlets and said plurality of shutters is atleast equal to the suction surface area of said filter element,irrespective of the position of said shutters.

4. An air induction temperature regulator for internal combustionengines, comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing, having an openbase portion, enclosing said carburetor; at least one air flow passagedefined in said casing; means, including a first air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying heated air to said carburetorthrough said passage; means, including a second air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying unheated air to saidcarburetor through said passage; and means for adjusting the ratio ofunheated air to heated air in said carburetor, including a plurality ofarcuately shaped movable shutters mounted adjacent said base portion inoperative engagement with said air inlets, wherein said shutterssubstantially surround said open base portion and are apertured toprovide a flow of air to said carburetor through at least one of saidfirst and second air inlets.

5. An air induction temperature regulator for internal combustionengines, comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing having an openbase portion and enclosing said carburetor; means for sucking air intosaid casing through said base portion, along the outer surface of saidcarburetor to ensure a heat exchange therewith, and then through saidcarburetor; means, including a filter element disposed in said openingat the base portion, for filtering at least a portion of said air suckedinto said casing; and venturi-type passages having a decreasing crosssection defined in said casing through which said sucked in air flows,the largest cross section of said passages corresponding to the surfacearea of said filter element, and adjustable means for varying thetemperature of the air supplied to said carburetor.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said carburetor has afunnel-shaped venturi-type air inlet.

7. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality offins provided on the outer surface of said carburetor.

8. The device according to claim 5, further comprising means, includinga first air inlet, for supplying heated air to said carburetor throughsaid passages, means, including a second air inlet, for supplyingunheated air to said carburetor through said passages; and sphericallyshaped shutters adjustably mounted on said casing in operativeengagement with said means for supplying heated and unheated air,wherein said shutters are adjustable to adjust the ratio of heated tounheated air supplied to said carburetor through said casing.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the total area of the openpassages defined by said first and second air inlets and saidspherically shaped shutters is at least equal to the suction surfacearea ofsaid filter element, irrespective of the positions of saidshutters.

Patent No. 3673995 Dated y 7 Inven fl Jean-Pierre MANGIN It is.certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Ptent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Letters Patent will show the French priority No. 69/l6.928 of May 23,1969. (This was omitted from Letters Patent) Signed and sealed this 30thday of January 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents F ORM PO-1050 (1069)

1. An induction air temperature regulator for internal combustionengines, comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing having anopening at its base and enclosing said carburetor therein; means forsucking air into said casing through said base portion, along the outersurface of said carburetor to ensure a heat exchangE therewith, and thenthrough said carburetor; means, including a filter element, forfiltering at least a portion of said air sucked into said casing;venturitype passages having a decreasing cross section defined in saidcasing through which said sucked in air flows, the largest cross sectionof said passages corresponding to the surface area of said filterelement; said carburetor having a funnel-shaped air inlet; means forsupplying heated and unheated air into said casing; and sphericallyshaped shutters adjustably mounted on said casing in operativeengagement with said means for supplying heated and unheated air,wherein said shutters are adjustable to adjust the ratio of heated tounheated air supplied to said carburetor through said casing.
 2. An airinduction temperature regulator for internal combustion engines,comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing, having an open baseportion, enclosing said carburetor; at lease one air flow passagedefined in said casing; means, including a first air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying heated air to said carburetorthrough said passage; means, including a second air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying unheated air to saidcarburetor through said passage; and means for adjusting the ratio ofunheated air to heated air in said carburetor, including a plurality ofarcuately shaped movable shutters mounted adjacent said base portion inoperative engagement with said air inlets, further comprising: a filterelement mounted adjacent said open base portion between said air inletsand said carburetor; and a plurality of said air flow passages have agradually decreasing cross section, the largest cross sectioncorresponding to the surface area of said filter element.
 3. An airinduction temperature regulator for internal combustion engines,comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing, having an open baseportion, enclosing said carburetor; at least one air flow passagedefined in said casing; means, including a first air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying heated air to said carburetorthrough said passage; means including a second air inlet disposedadjacent said base portion, for supplying unheated air to saidcarburetor through said passage; and means for adjusting the ratio ofunheated air to heated air in said carburetor, including a plurality ofarcuately shaped movable shutters mounted adjacent said base portion inoperative engagement with said air inlets, further comprising a filterelement mounted adjacent said open base portion between said air inletsand said carburetor, wherein the total area of the open passages definedby said first and second air inlets and said plurality of shutters is atleast equal to the suction surface area of said filter element,irrespective of the position of said shutters.
 4. An air inductiontemperature regulator for internal combustion engines, comprising: acarburetor; a bell-shaped casing, having an open base portion, enclosingsaid carburetor; at least one air flow passage defined in said casing;means, including a first air inlet disposed adjacent said base portion,for supplying heated air to said carburetor through said passage; means,including a second air inlet disposed adjacent said base portion, forsupplying unheated air to said carburetor through said passage; andmeans for adjusting the ratio of unheated air to heated air in saidcarburetor, including a plurality of arcuately shaped movable shuttersmounted adjacent said base portion in operative engagement with said airinlets, wherein said shutters substantially surround said open baseportion and are apertured to provide a flow of air to said carburetorthrough at least one of said first and second air inlets.
 5. An airinduction temperature regulator for internal combustion engines,comprising: a carburetor; a bell-shaped casing having an open baseportion and enclosing said carburetor; means for sucking air into saidcasing through said base portion, along the outer surface of saidcarburetor to ensure a heat exchange therewith, and then through saidcarburetor; means, including a filter element disposed in said openingat the base portion, for filtering at least a portion of said air suckedinto said casing; and venturi-type passages having a decreasing crosssection defined in said casing through which said sucked in air flows,the largest cross section of said passages corresponding to the surfacearea of said filter element, and adjustable means for varying thetemperature of the air supplied to said carburetor.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein said carburetor has a funnel-shapedventuri-type air inlet.
 7. The device according to claim 5, furthercomprising a plurality of fins provided on the outer surface of saidcarburetor.
 8. The device according to claim 5, further comprisingmeans, including a first air inlet, for supplying heated air to saidcarburetor through said passages; means, including a second air inlet,for supplying unheated air to said carburetor through said passages; andspherically shaped shutters adjustably mounted on said casing inoperative engagement with said means for supplying heated and unheatedair, wherein said shutters are adjustable to adjust the ratio of heatedto unheated air supplied to said carburetor through said casing.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein the total area of the open passagesdefined by said first and second air inlets and said spherically shapedshutters is at least equal to the suction surface area of said filterelement, irrespective of the positions of said shutters.